as in tale
a traditional description of imaginary events circulated orally among a people
West African folktales that continue to be passed from generation to generation through storytelling
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Recent Examples of folktale
Interspersed in the narrative, there are South Asian folktales about a jackal who is punished for pretending to be a king and a foolish man who puts all his eggs in a basket.
—
Malaka Gharib, NPR, 21 Mar. 2025
The movie opens like an old folktale, and that tone pervades the rest of the narrative.
—Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2025
A lot of the folktales referenced in Rabbit Trap are drawn from this one text from 1880, called British Goblins, from an American anthropologist called Wirt Sikes, who traveled through Wales, collected stories and sightings of goblins and fairies.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 31 Jan. 2025
Her songs involve dark folktales, animal encounters, and bad uncles.
—Emma Alpern, Vulture, 28 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for folktale
Malaka Gharib, NPR, 21 Mar. 2025
The movie opens like an old folktale, and that tone pervades the rest of the narrative.
—Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2025
A lot of the folktales referenced in Rabbit Trap are drawn from this one text from 1880, called British Goblins, from an American anthropologist called Wirt Sikes, who traveled through Wales, collected stories and sightings of goblins and fairies.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 31 Jan. 2025
Her songs involve dark folktales, animal encounters, and bad uncles.
—Emma Alpern, Vulture, 28 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for folktale
Recent Examples of Synonyms for folktale
Noun
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Where Bailey lands is probably going to tell the tale of his career.—
Mike Vorkunov,
New York Times,
26 June 2025
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The page lists half a dozen directorial projects Ford is attached to, including ferry disaster tragedy Wahine out of New Zealand, fantasy tale The King of Light – The Order of the Dark Gods, and comedy Food Fight.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
24 June 2025
Noun
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The map legend now more clearly says where things like anomalies and bosses are.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
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Billy and his sister Elizabeth continue to keep the advertising legend’s memory alive.—
Lynsey Eidell,
People.com,
28 June 2025
Noun
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In the box office smash, the talented singer and actress portrays Elphaba, the green witch from the famed Wizard of Oz story.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
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Pic is based on the real-life story of Politkovskaya’s pioneering crusade for an independent voice in Russia in the late 1990s and early 2000s.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
23 June 2025
Noun
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When the photographer Víctor Zea was a child living in Lima, Peru, he was taught an Inca myth of origin.—
Ana Karina Zatarain,
New Yorker,
21 June 2025
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Getting up to speed on the modern-day reality of actual EV usage and charging habits proves to be the antidote to overcoming the ever-fading yet persistent myth of range anxiety.—
Melanie Marshall,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 June 2025
Noun
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That late start didn’t stop him from becoming the most accomplished and influential trainer in the history of North American horse racing.—
Neil Milbert,
Chicago Tribune,
29 June 2025
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White wasn’t happy with Pimblett getting in the ring, knowing the history of bad blood between the two.—
W.G. Ramirez,
Los Angeles Times,
29 June 2025
Noun
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Will Belly choose to keep her romance with Jeremiah going, or will Conrad find his way back to her heart — perhaps where he’s been all along?—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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Bathed in a pink-pop glow, its pastiche of romance and horror collide in a viciously mischievous parable of technology and control that speaks to these most anxious times.—
EW Staff Published,
EW.com,
30 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Folktale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/folktale. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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